Project:

The Institute for Biomedical Ethics (IBMB) at the University of Basel, is dedicated to research and teaching of biomedical ethics at the Medical and Science Faculties. We are currently looking for a dynamic and independent graduate student (Master’s degree) or physician who is interested in carrying out their PhD work in empirical bioethics. The PhD position is part of an exciting new research project on the ethical and social implications of implantable device technologies, such as pacemakers or neural implants, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as part of the National Research Program NRP83.

The goal of the project is to identify, understand, and mitigate gender and sex biases in implantable medical devices, to promote equitable healthcare outcomes and inclusive device development across diverse patient populations. The project involves international collaboration with partners in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. It employs a biomedical ethics approach to investigate ethical and social aspects related to sex/gender issues in active implantable medical devices. It contains theoretical parts (systematic review of state-of-the-art) and empirical parts (acquisition of quantitative data, stakeholder interview study) with the ultimate goal to make recommendations, and if necessary, revise, existing ethical and regulatory frameworks. The project is practice oriented and includes rich implementation activities with various stakeholders in Switzerland, the UK and Germany. One or two PhD students will be hired for this position and will work closely with a Postdoc or Senior Researcher involved in the project.

Starting date/length of PhD program: At the earliest 1.4.2025; not later than 1.8.2025; duration: 3 years

Your tasks:

• Conducting a systematic review and mapping of the field of active implantable devices.
• Obtaining novel gender rich quantitative data.
• Conducting and analyzing qualitative stakeholder interviews.
• Continuing your education/training (depending on the applicant’s background, e.g., taking courses on research methods, in moral philosophy/ethics).
• Documenting and presenting research findings in English.
• Taking responsibility for various organizational processes at the IBMB.
• Mentoring research assistants, supervising students and reviewing their contributions.

Your qualifications:

• Master’s degree in ethics, philosophy, bioethics, public health, social sciences (e.g. political sciences, STS, anthropology, etc.), medicine, biomedical engineering, or other related fields.
• Very good Master’s and Bachelor’s academic grades.
• Excellent language skills in English.
• Willingness to contribute towards an empirical project.
• Excellent knowledge of empirical research methods.
• High level of commitment, intrinsic motivation, enthusiasm, and responsibility.
• Willingness to work for several months in the UK, with our project partner, if needed for the project.
• You wish to be an integral part of an international team and contribute to its success.
• You have strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently.

We offer:

• Possibility to do research in a multi- and transdisciplinary environment
• Enrolment in a Swiss Bologna accredited PhD Program in Bioethics and Health Policy at one of the leading research universities in Europe
• An attractive salary and well-equipped working environment
• Possibility to apply for additional funding at the SNSF (e.g. Gender Equality Grant for women)
• Positive and productive working atmosphere in which you can develop yourself and realize your potential within a dedicated team that enjoys collaborating on various projects
• Possibility to spend a portion of the research period at our project partner institution in the UK.
• Empirical methods courses to successfully conduct your PhD Project
• You will also have the possibility to contribute to the academic life at the IBMB, including contributions to teaching, collaboration in other research projects and academic publications in scientific journals.

Environment:

The University of Basel is the oldest Swiss university with a long tradition in ethics and the humanities and is committed to diversity, equal opportunities and family-friendliness. It has a long-standing reputation in outstanding research and teaching. Its doctoral candidates come from many international countries providing a vibrant and rich community. More information about the University is available at the following website: https://www.unibas.ch/en/University/About-University.html. The city of Basel is a global centre for biomedical research with major academic institutions and research departments of leading life science companies. Basel is a multicultural city and ranks among the best in terms of quality of life.

Applications:

Must be in English, in a single PDF file (file name: last name, first name):

1. motivation letter (max. 1 page, font 11)
2. detailed CV, including an overview of study results (grades), title of your master thesis, contact information of (at least) two (academic) referees
3. PDF of the master thesis

sent to PD Dr. Tenzin Wangmo and Prof. Dr. Bernice Elger with email subject “PhD in Implantable Medical Technologies” by 28 February 2025.

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